Monday, December 10, 2007

Yarn: Elsebeth Lavold Silky Wool, 6 skeins of colour 10 woadNeedles: 3.5mm addi turbos for the body, 3.25mm dpns for the garter rib in the sleeve, 3.5mm and 3.75mm addi turbos for the upper sleeve, 3mm addi lace for the button/neck bandsMods: Used smaller needles for narrower sleeve/cuff. Knit 4 fewer rows in the neckband. Knit 2 more rows in each front band. Made 4 st button holes to accomodate slightly larger buttons.Notes: The sleeves are 3" longer than they should be. I hope my bf likes long sleeves! Lots of vm in the yarn which was annoying. Overall, I am very pleased. I ended up calling my bf and let her pick the buttons. She chose the antiqued silver.

Wednesday, December 5, 2007

I am very close to being finished. I narrowed the sleeves by knitting the garter rib with 3.25mm dpns (for an 8" diameter), switched to 3.5mm circs at the stockinette, and then to 3.75mm circs to match gauge with the rest of the sweater. I occasionally had to knit a few extra rows to match the length of the sleeves to the diagram.

I think there is a slight error in the neckband instructions. The pictures in the magazine only show 4 garter ridges (8 rows of knitting) but when I knit the neckband according to the instructions, there were 7 garter ridges showing after folding it in half. I didn't like how tall it was so I ripped out 4 rows and now it looks like the picture in the magazine.

I am working on the front left band and I'm auditioning buttons. The ones shown above are just slightly larger than half an inch so I need to knit the button band slightly wider.

I have these buttons in 2 colours - antiqued silver on the left and antiqued bronze on the right. Which one do you think I should use? (click on the image for a larger one)

Wednesday, November 21, 2007

I'm so happy to be done with this sweater! I put off the finishing and blocking for a week after the knitting was complete, but finally took care of those last few details. Full notes on modifications etc are on my blog - www.knitography.com - but I will say that I am very happy with how it turned out. I wore it to work yesterday and already got a compliment on it, which feels good after all that work!

Wednesday, November 7, 2007

I'm really excited about finishing the knitting on this project. It was a great knit and I'm almost sad it's over. Almost.

I still have the finishing details to worry with, weaving in the ends, sewing on buttons, and the like. And I'm hoping the tangled bits don't look quite as puckered after I block it. But all in all I can't wait to wear it.

Tuesday, October 30, 2007

I finally made it to the cabled yoke, after what felt like miles of stockinette. I'm about halfway through the cable chart, although I would be a few rows further along if I didn't have to rip out and re-do every other cable row due to my own stupidity when it comes to reading the chart. I don't usually have trouble reading charts, but these rows are really long and perhaps I don't check the chart as often as I should to see what happens next. Regardless, I really enjoy watching the cable grow as I make my way through row after row. Here's how it looks so far (although the colour isn't very accurate):

I'm starting to get excited about getting this finished and wearing it, so after a brief loss of momentum this project is zooming along again. Given the change in the weather, I can't get it done soon enough!

Monday, October 29, 2007

Saturday, October 27, 2007

I was wondering if anyone had experimented with the length of the ribbing on the sleeve. I was using the magic loop method that was outlined so well on this KAL for the sleeves and have been happy so far but I was looking at the pictures of the sweater in the mag and I was considering modifying the amount of inches of ribbing on the sleeves to be a few inches less so it was around 5 inches like the body is. Has anyone already done this so that they have pictures or does anyone have any advice?

Tuesday, October 23, 2007

Wow - this is a fast knit! I have reached the underarms. So the next step is to cast on a sleeve. I agree that a 9.5" cuff is too baggy for a 6" wrist. So I will be casting on with 3.25mm dpns which should give me a 7.5-8" cuff. Part way up the garter ribbing, I'll switch to 3.5mm needles.

Friday, October 19, 2007

I'm at the waist now. I just finished the first ball of yarn and I need to go wind the second one. I like the look of the yarn (Elsebeth Lavold's Silky Wool) but I don't like all the vm in it. I'm picking out the big burrs as I come across them. Ick! Overall, I like the drape and I think the yarn was a good substitute. I am knitting the smallest size but since my bf is soooo skinny, I went down a needle size (3.5mm - stitch gauge is off but row gauge is spot on) so that there will be some negative ease.

Wednesday, October 17, 2007

I'm finally in the groove with this project...it took me a while! I started knitting a year ago and this is my most difficult project thus far. I tried the cable pattern first on some scrap yarn to make sure I could get through it...I'm using Rowan Felted Tweed in cranberry; it's actually more of a plum/brown. I am knitting the second size with a somewhat tighter gauge. Here's a look at her.

Grateful for the information and learning! Stunning knitting out there.

Ok, here’s the deal. I’ve been working on the sleeves for the Tangled Yoke Cardigan for a few weeks and here’s what’s happening:

Here’s a closer look:

Waaaay to big for my liking. So here’s where I need my fellow knitters advice…

Should I frog the sleeves and start all over, and cast on fewer stitches? Or should I keep the sleeves I’ve knitted so far, but make them three-quarter sleeves instead? Here’s what they would look like on moi three-quarter length:

I know its a preference thing, but I’m a bit undecided…so persuade me!

Tuesday, October 16, 2007

I'm finding the cables to be VERY slow going. This is my first cable project and I'm trying very hard to make no mistakes. Last night, I got near the end of row 7, and realized that I somehow lost 2 of the stitches off of one of the 1-into-5 increases from the previous row. Does that make sense? One of my sets of 5 has only 3 stitches.

Is there a way to recover the 2 stitches without ripping back almost 2 whole rows? I was way too tired to think this through late last night, so maybe this is an easy fix. I plan to play with a swatch tonight to see if I can do it. I'm using felted tweed in a dark color -- it is so hard to see stitches clearly sometimes.

Monday, October 15, 2007

Just wanted to say hi and introduce myself. I am using Elsebeth Lavold's Silky Wool in Woad (a really nice denim blue). I will be making the smallest size. It will be a Christmas present for my best friend (the lucky girl!).

Wow! I've been looking at all of the progress and FO pictures, and all I can say is, you guys are rock stars! It's amazing how even though we're all working on the same pattern, the results are all so varied and so beautiful. To those of you who are finished, I say congratulations, and to those of you who are still truckin', I say keep on keepin' on!

I apologize wholeheartedly to those of you who have had to wait for invitations lately. This isn't Ravelry, and I should take far less time to get those invites out. It turns out that even at the undergraduate level, a senior thesis takes, like, time. In that spirit, if any of you feel like signing on and making us administratrices (plural) rather than administratrix (singular), tell Gmail to let me know. The responsibilities are pretty minimal, but my computer has lately proven that it has an unfaithful heart and the day of reckoning (thesis deadline) approaches, so if anyone feels like joining forces, that would be awesome.

Sunday, October 14, 2007

It's done! I wouldn't say it was quick, but it was definitely pretty easy aside from the cable. The individual stitches on the cable weren't any more difficult than most vertical cables, but it was still difficult because of the really long rows. It was easy to lose track or get a little off (and a huge pain to go back and undo it). Also, you don't have the visual cues of being able to see how it should fit together as you do on a vertical cable. But I think that I could design horizontal cables to use in other places now, so it was definitely good to learn. This was also my first project that used short rows and button bands. Yay! More new skills.

Yarn: Knitpicks Palette in Garnet HeatherNeedles: US 3 circs for body/yoke, US 4 dpn's for sleeves (however, my gauge was off and it ended up smaller than it was supposed to)

Saturday, October 13, 2007

Anyone else finding the sleeve instructions make for a much wider sleeve, especially at the cuff, than the pattern photo shows? I've had to redo mine 3 times to get a good fit. I just have one sleeve and the button band to go!

Monday, October 8, 2007

Just a quick little update. I'm currently finished with the main body and am knitting up the sleeves. I'm using the magic loop method that Kendyl described here to knit them up, and so far so good! It took me a little while to figure out, but now I'm rolling! Anyway, here are a few updated pics:

Saturday, October 6, 2007

Get it? Yoke? The color is sort of egg yoke? Ok, maybe I'm just a little punchy. I joined the previously knitted sleeves and I'm nearly at the very exciting but slightly intimidating yoke, oh boy!

Isn't this yarn yummy? I am in total lust with this yarn. Silky Wool from Elsebeth Lavold. The color, the texture, the smooth way it knits up. Pure. Love.

However, the pattern is a bit problematic for the novice. I feel somewhat sacrilegious in criticizing Eunny - but there is an error in the increase section for the body and the directions for joining the sleeves are less than clear. And then there are the 2 completely useless markers one stitch from each edge. Huh? Isn't there enough to worry about without messing with a stitch marker flopping about and threatening to fall off each row turn? Those little ##$@^$^ fell off one to many times and I got rid of them. So there.

Erm... I must be close to that time of the month. Except - I don't do that anymore! Guess I'm just a bitch.

But... isn't she lovely? I am 20 rows away from the yoke. I can't wait, but I am a tad fearful. Will Eunnyflummox me again? we shall see....

Friday, October 5, 2007

My Tangled Yoke Pullover is finished! I have a feeling it's not what some of you expected it to look like. First, I'll show the photos and then explain why and how I did what I did. (It's a hazy odd day out; I had a lot of trouble getting decent photos. This yarn changes color depending upon the light, which is very noticeable here. The sideways photo is the truest to color.)

The grafted under arm:

As you can see, I chose to do a Henley style neckline -- preserving the split at the front of the cardigan. For larger pictures, an explanation of why I went that route, and details on all of the other changes I made, you can read my more complete post at my blog, which is found here.

Tuesday, October 2, 2007

As I merrily plow ahead with my Tangled Yoke, I thought I'd share one of the changes I made. The instructions, which are for a cardigan (I'm knitting this as a pullover), call for you to knit the entire piece (back and fronts) back and forth with a purl stitch running from the hem to the under arm to give the look of a seam. I did that, but wasn't sure I liked how it looked. So, in order to see if I would like it better without the faux seam, I undid it on one side. Here's what I mean.

First, here is a shot of the side "seam."

To remove it, I first dropped the purl stitch all the way down to the garter rib. (I wasn't going to undo the seam stitch there because it provides a focal point for the decreases.)

Then, using a crochet hook, I laddered the stitch back up -- turning it from a purl stitch to a knit stitch.

Without the seam stitch, the side looks like this:

I liked how that looked better, so before I joined the sleeves and body for the yoke, I undid the seam stitch on the other side as well. Important note: I conducted this experiment before I finished the garter rib on my first sleeve, so I could decide whether or not to add the seam stitch to the sleeve under arm. I wanted the sleeves and body to match, obviously.

I'm almost finished with the whole thing. If not tonight, then tomorrow.

Monday, October 1, 2007

Here's what I've got so far. It rolls under in front so it looks like it doesn't meet, but it just barely does if you unroll the edges. Should be good once I add the button band. I added 3 short rows for the bust area. So far, so good I think.

Friday, September 28, 2007

Just wanted to add a few photos on the progress of my Tangled Yoke. I'm using Knit Picks Swish DK in Moss and absolutely LOVE the color. I haven't gotten too far...its not that I'm not a fast knitter, but being this is my first cardigan I'm constantly referring back to the pattern and correcting mistakes :-/ plus I've been traveling a lot for work and have had a lot of personal engagements to attend to! Anyway, here they are:

Monday, September 24, 2007

Here’s my progress on the Tangled Yoke Cardigan. Instead of starting from the bottom up, I started at the yoke area with a provisional cast on. Later, I’ll pick up there and knit down so I can adjust it to fit. More info on my blog here if you are curious as to why I'm doing it this way. The blue line is just a lifeline, because I'm altering the neck a bit, and will come out later.

Sunday, September 23, 2007

"Return held sts for right sleeve to needle with RS facing" - which needle? the right one or the left? Which held sts? the 19 sts or the 60? Do you knit these held sts onto the needle or just place them on?"Knit next st of right front tog with first right-sleeve st as k2tog" I guess this depends on the answer to my first question(s). Actually, I hope the whole thing will clear up with these answers.

Wednesday, September 19, 2007

I've decided to jump, head-first, into this one. It's such a beautiful pattern, I couldn't resist!

As is my usual MO, I plan on modding this sweetie. First off, I decided to use a stash-yarn, which unfortunate is going to prove a gamble: I have 10 skeins of Jamieson's DK in Port Wine (a lovely colour!) which only amounts to 1075 metres of yarny goodness. With this in mind, I've decided to shorten the sleeves, probably to just above the elbow.

Also, as I was working along, I noticed my row count is abnormally high! I hope this means I won't use up as much yarn.

I've also nipped in the waist a bit, (once again, in a desperate attempt to save some for what I imagine will be a yarn-gobbling yoke and tedious ribbed edging).

Now, off to knit. I do have one nagging problem - what colour buttons to buy? Any suggestions? I think it may be tricky to match the purple. Would a pearly white be too stark a contrast? How about slate grey?Thanks!

I've now reached the point in the body where it's time to join the sleeves -- after I knit them, of course. I've just started the first one. As I said earlier, I'm making this into a pullover, not a cardigan.

Saturday, September 15, 2007

I started my Tangled Yoke yesterday! It's the 42" size knit with Jo Sharp Silkroad Tweed in the color 'Cocoa'. I'm only two inches into the pattern, but I already love it.I took a day trip to Anacortes today and went to Ana-Cross Stitch. It sounds like a cross stitch shop, but it has a new owner and it's now mainly a yarn shop. I bought nine buttons for my cardigan there. What do you think? I love them. They're oyster shell - grooved on one side and smooth and shiny on the other.

I started my Tangled Yoke Not-a-Cardigan a couple of days ago and have just gotten past the garter rib section of the body. I'm knitting it in Rowan's Felted Tweed in Shade Number 152: Watery.

I don't have my camera handy, but here is a photograph from the day I started, which shows the color.

I am NOT knitting this sweater as a cardigan; I'm turning it into a pullover. To do that, I cast on the same number of stitches for the front as for the back. I'll put four of the front stitches on a holder at the point when I want to split the neck (which I plan to do just before the cable pattern starts).

I am using U.S. 4 needles because I found my gauge was a little bit loose on the size 5s recommended by the pattern. Also, there is a small error in the instructions for the decreases that occur during the garter rib. She has five decreases within the ribbing (at least for the second size) as detailed by the instructions and the number of stitches remaining, but the row count assumes more. It's because the instructions are written in a confusing way and I think that caused a miscount. It's easily fixable, but just something to be aware of.

Friday, September 14, 2007

My yarn for Tangled Yoke came yesterday. It's Mr. Joe Blanket in the color Stone from Elann. I swatched it with needles sizes 4 & 5. 5 is a tad bigger than gauge and 4 is a tad smaller in stockinette. 5 is right on the ribbing part though, so I think I'll go with that. The fabric is a quite a bit looser feeling on the 5s but that will probably be a plus in the warm climate here. 4 looks a bit smoother but I honestly don't know if I'd have enough yarn if I used the 4s and it would take so much longer. This yarn is a tiny bit thick and thin anyway, so it's probably not going to have a totally smooth look anyway. So far, I really like it. Now I just have to figure out what size I need!

Wednesday, September 12, 2007

I truly meant to photograph progress, but somehow didn't get it done. Last night I did the 3-needle bind-off for the neckband, grafted the underarms and picked up the stitches for the button band, so am all but finished! Now to find the perfect buttons and block.Dicksie

Friday, September 7, 2007

As a fairly new knitter I read all sorts of brilliant ideas out there in blog-land and think "that's a good idea!" Trouble is, it's an idea - not a darn tutorial. Someone out there said, "I knit both sleeves at once on a Magic Loop so my mistakes will be symmetrical." Brilliant! A method for planning for mistakes!

I'm thinking my LYS goddesses will teach me. Not only had they never heard of such a thing, they thought I was nuts. They are no longer goddesses. The 'net also failed. One lone spot discussed cuff down 2 socks on a single circ, but there were assumptions that I knew way more than I did.

I duked it out with my two balls of yarn and one circular needle and voila - here is my tutorial for novices!

Thursday, September 6, 2007

Just a quick heads-up. On Row 6 (where you do a series of 1 - 5 increases) on the wrong side, these occur all across the row - guess how I know! I'm in the process of frogging the entire row. Can't imagine why that didn't occur to me as I was working it. Any way, as soon as you start knitting Row 7 you will realize something is missing.Dicksie

Monday, September 3, 2007

I'm just starting the decreases before getting to the cable - wish it were earlier so I'd have a couple of hours knitting left tonight. Had an interesting question on KR today from a poster who wondered about knitting this as a pullover - I'd never thought of it, but it could be quite nice. I love some of the brilliant colors others are using - my soft blue suddenly looks pretty bland!Dicksie

Sunday, September 2, 2007

Before starting the pattern, I definitely had misgivings about a few of the elements, including the garter rib and the faux seam.

I considered nixing both of them in favor of regular 2x2 ribbing and no seam, but then I decided to try something new. By the time I had finished the ribbing, I was pretty happy with it.

Now, I'm maybe halfway through the body stockinette, and I'm sold on the faux seam too. I don't have any problem sewing actual seams, but if I get to the end and want to tighten it up a bit I could still do that.

Friday, August 31, 2007

I started the sweater a couple of weeks ago and I'm still working on the body. But last night I was reading ahead in the pattern, excited about getting to the cabled yoke. I'm knitting the 38" size and noticed a couple of numbers that didn't work out for me. When beginning the neckband with the size 4 needle, there should be 110 stitches. But then the pattern asks you to pick up and knit 112 stitches from the purl bumps. Both of these sets of stitches need to be the same number if you're going to use a 3-needle bind off. This only seems to be an issue for the 38" size.

Has anyone made this size and could tell me if they found a problem with the numbers?

Thursday, August 30, 2007

Katie posted a question about ease on a recent post. I'm responding in a new post because I think this may be helpful for everyone. Eunny Jang recently responded to a similar question about ease for the Tangled Yoke cardigan on Ravelry:

"I think the model had only an inch or so of ease in the pictured sweater - but I think this sweater would look fine with a couple more inches of ease as well. It's not very dramatically shaped - part of that is the illusion created by how deep the ribbing is. Instant waistline! The ribbing is a garter rib, too, which is less binding than a regular rib, so that stealthy fake waistline doesn't come at the expense of being able to draw a deep breath."

Although (or perhaps because) sleeves bore the crap out of me, I'm really glad to be getting them out of the way first. This may become policy for future sweaters... we shall see.

As predicted, I had to add a bunch of plain rows at the top of the sleeve (I worked 30 instead of 17), and I'm still glad the stitches are held instead of bound off in case I need more. Oy. But I love the Silky Wool. It works up like woolly tree bark, and yet it's so light! Awesome.

The Tangled Yoke Cardigan

Welcome

Welcome to the Tangled Yoke Cardigan KAL! Together we tangle, twine, rib and cable without fear!

The pattern is available in the Fall 2007 issue of Interweave Knits.

To Join

If you'd like to join the KAL, just pop an email to tangledyoke [at] gmail [dot] com and you'll be promptly invited. If you'd like to be linked to in the sidebar, include the desired URL in your email. (Please do not leave invite requests in the comments.)